The
30s was an especially strong period for Howard Hawks (represented by two
films here), for Ernest Lubitsch (also represented by two films), for
Leo McCarey (ditto), and, most of all, for Jean Renoir (represented by
three), who turned out 13 features during that decade, the second,
third, and thirteenth of which are cited here. Boudu (1932), the
third, stars the great Michel Simon (see L’Atalante,
above) as a mangy and unapologetic tramp saved from drowning by a
middle-class Parisian bookseller who’s determined to reform and
“civilize” him. A ruthless and often hilarious tweaking of liberal
delusions that scandalized Bosley Crowther, lead film reviewer of the
New York Times, so thoroughly when it opened in the U.S. for the
first time (in 1967!) that he walked out before the end, it continues to
charm and provoke. (By contrast, Paul Mazursky’s toothless 1986 remake,
Down and Out in Beverly Hills,
offends only those who care about the original.) Renoir’s light-hearted
comedy is also a kind of irreverent celebration of Boudu’s sloth,
diffidence, and instinctually animalistic behavior. Renoir’s
off-the-cuff manner of shooting remains as carefree and as fresh as the
lead character.

ADDITION: Park Circus - Region 'B' Blu-ray - March 2014 -
This is quite an upgrade. This is from a restoration via
a 2K scan of the original nitrate - camera negative by
the Parisian Digimage laboratories and Bologna's
L'immagine Ritrovata coordinated on digital by Pâthé.
The, essentially bare-bones,
Blu-rayfrom Park
Circus in the UK is single-layered with a middling
bitrate but has strong black levels and, in some scenes,
a dramatic increase in sharpness. The restoration has
eliminated the damage marks (full vertical scratches -
see below) that are no longer present in the
presentation. The 1080P also shows more information in
the 1.18:1 frame - notably at the top and bottom. I like
this image even though it is darker and tends to lose
detail as compared to the SD. This has great grain
texture and a very pleasing, although at times
less-consistent, image.

NOTE: David tells us in email "One unique feature of
it you haven't mentioned, (it's mentioned on the box
cover but you may have a screener) is this resto
restores literally one minute of a previously always
censored sequence from approx. 45m, 57s to 47m,04s in
which Boudu takes a book from Lestingois' shelves,
(Balzac's Physiologie de la Mariage no less) and spits
on the image of Balzac. Lestingois notices this and they
have a brief angry exchange. Interestingly, perhaps
because there have never previously been English subs
for this missing minute this stretch of the disc is
unsubtitled!" (Thanks David!)

Audio is in linear PCM - original French - mono and is,
also, superior to the DVDs. There is some light flute
music that sounds quite good (almost better than the
image.) It is very crisp and clear + tight. There are
optional English subtitles (sample below).

Supplements are, unfortunately, only a short trailer and
photo gallery with some stills and a couple of posters.
I don't know where the upcoming Pâthé
Blu-ray
will offer English subtitles but I'll bet it is from the
same fine restoration. Fabulous film - strongly
recommended!

***

ON THE DVDs (2005): As expected the Criterion
appears sharper than the Optimum, has superior contrast, better subtitles
and better extras. It does however still show the same damage marks as the
Optimum but they mostly less visible. The Criterion also has some minor
cropping on the top and occasionally the right edge. The Criterion has some
amazing archival extras with stuff from Rohmer et all. We encourage you to
buy the Criterion to view Renoir's masterful film.